EcoWaste Coalition is a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups pursuing sustainable solutions
to waste, climate change and chemical issues facing the Philippines and the world.

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31 March 2018

Today,
Black Saturday, the EcoWaste Coalition went back to the Our Lady of Lourdes
Grotto in San Jose del Monte City to check on the garbage situation at the religious
park following the influx of pilgrims yesterday, Good Friday.
As anticipated, we were greeted with an upsetting sight: garbage was strewn all over the site
from the entrance to the Stations of the Cross where people flock to pray. The hills, featuring life-sized images depicting
the agony, death and resurrection of Christ, were dotted not with flowers, but with
plastic trash. The garbage left by
picnickers turned the picnic area, which is next to the grotto, into a big mess
unsuitable for picnicking. From what we
have seen, the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto could be a top candidate for the
most-litter strewn pilgrimage site and this is largely due to the lack of discipline
and indifferent attitude towards the environment by some of the pilgrims. The limited number of the dedicated staff and
volunteers of the Grotto Shrine Foundation, who could be seen picking up the
litter and tidying up the site, was no match to the large number of pilgrims.

Littering again reared its
ugly head leaving popular Lenten pilgrimage sites in Bulacan and Rizal
provinces awash in trash.

The EcoWaste Coalition decried the perpetual littering that, for the nth time,
tainted the traditional acts of devotion and penance performed by hundreds of
thousands of Catholic faithful on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at the said sites.

The waste and pollution watch group monitored the trash situation at the Our
Lady of Lourdes Grotto in San Jose del Monte City and the National Shrine of
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City on Good Friday morning.

“Just like in previous years, the Lenten pilgrimage to both religious sites left
a trail of trash that is totally unbefitting of the spiritual journey that many
devotees do to affirm their faith, ask forgiveness for past wrongs, and give
thanks for blessings received,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner,
EcoWaste Coalition.

At the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Lenten campers and picnickers left heaps of
garbage on the lawns and sidewalks turning the serene site into a virtual dump. “There’s literally trash everywhere,” the
group observed.

Mounds of trash were also seen at the patio of the Antipolo Cathedral, home of
the venerated image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. However, the nearby Sumulong Park, M. L. Quezon Street and
adjacent streets were found to be generally “clean” because of the around-the-clock
cleaning operations by waste and sanitation workers of the Antipolo City
Government.

Carelessly discarded on the grounds, sidewalks, street corners and gutters were
newspapers, corrugated boxes and other materials used by pilgrims for resting,
picnicking and sleeping, snack packs, plastic bags, bottles and cups, food
containers and leftovers, and cigarette stabs.

“Some of the discarded stuff is in fact reusable and
recyclable. Luckily, enterprising waste pickers, especially in
Antipolo City, were on hand to retrieve these valuable materials and sell them
to junk shops,” Alejandre said.

From the photos posted at
the group’s blog and Facebook account, it was apparent that the plea for a
trash-free Holy Week aired not only by the EcoWaste Coalition but also by
church and government authorities again fell on deaf ears.

“We surely are not happy with what we saw, but hope springs eternal in the
human heart. We therefore reiterate our appeal to the faithful to
care for Mother Earth, sustainer of all life, as they fulfill their religious
vows. Faith-inspired endeavors should set a higher benchmark for
environmental stewardship,” Alejandre said.

Since 2018 marks the 30th anniversary
of the thought-provoking pastoral letter of the Catholic bishops on ecology
entitled “What is Happening to Our Beautiful Land,” the EcoWaste Coalition
urged church leaders to release a new statement that will re-mobilize the
entire Church and people to take further
action to protect and preserve the integrity of creation, including the
greening of faith activities.

Issued in 2008, the said pastoral letter was cited in the historic encyclical
on the environment “Laudato Si” issued by Pope Francis in 2015.

In support of “Laudato Si,” the bishops in 2015 made a strong statement
stressing: “We are not owners of the earth. We are its stewards, to
keep and cherish and nurture its resources not only for ourselves but for
future generations.”

28 March 2018

Environmental
advocates on Holy Wednesday converged at the historic Plaza Miranda to call
attention to the anguish and grief of Mother Earth as she is disrespected and
impaired by chemicals and wastes unendingly being dumped on her.

Led by the EcoWaste Coalition and its community partners, the event dubbed as
“Dasal at Aksyon, Alay kay Inang
Kalikasan” brought to light the degradation of the environment due to the low
compliance with pollution prevention and reduction laws such as the Republic
Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Among the groups that participated in the "Dasal at Aksyon"lenten
event were the Aksyon sa Kahandaan sa
Kalamidad at Klima, Buklod Tao, Global Catholic Climate
Movement-Pilipinas, and the Samahan ng mga Mangangalalakal ng Scrap sa Capulong

With the façade of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene as backdrop, the
participants carried on their shoulders a wooden carriage containing a globe
depicting Mother Earth bearing a cross amid a sea of residual and hazardous
wastes, including electronic, medical, plastic, and sachet wastes.

Written on the cross are some of the top environmental issues facing our
communities and their ecosystems such as open burning, waste-to-energy
incineration, and toxic pollution of the air, soil and water from chemical and
plastic pollutants.

Through prayers and songs, they expressed their hope that the stewardship of
creation will prevail over the pervasive throw-away culture and pollution that
dishonor and destroy Mother Earth.

During the event, the participants echoed the critical comment made by Pope
Francis in his groundbreaking encyclical letter “Laudato Si” regarding the
state of the global environment wherein he said “the earth, our home, is
beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.”

“The dumpsites and landfills, which are bursting at the seams, polluted creeks,
littered streets and beaches, and plasticized oceans is the Calvary of today
where Mother Earth finds herself being crucified day in and day out,” said
Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

“Mother Earth has to bear this heavy burden caused by society’s failure to
embrace sustainable consumption and production patterns resulting in the
unbridled exploitation of nature and the generation of too much and
too toxic wastes,” he added.

As noted by Pope Francis in “Laudato Si,” “each year hundreds of millions of
tons of waste are generated, much of it non-biodegradable, highly toxic and
radioactive, from homes and businesses, from construction and demolition sites,
from clinical, electronic and industrial sources.”

To stop the daily crucifixion of Mother Earth, the EcoWaste Coalition urged all
sectors to heed the call for conversion and action to save the environment and
allow the current and future generations to meet their needs and enjoy a better
quality of life.

Meanwhile, EcoWaste Coalition’s partners in Cebu
are also set to stage today a “Pagbasa ng Pasyon para sa Kalbaryo ng Kahirapan”
involving 100 activists. Organized by the Cebu chapters of the
Bukluran ng mga Manggagawang Pilipino, Freedom from Debt Coalition and
Sanlakas, the event will highlight the people’s continuing objection to the
waste-to-incineration facility in Lapu-LapuCity, and the negative
impacts of workers’ contractualization and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and
Inclusion (TRAIN). The “pagbasa” will commence at Malacañang sa Sugbo, pause at CebuCity Hall
and conclude in the vicinity of Metro Gaisano in Colon.

The EcoWaste Coalition, a non-profit watch group on toxic chemicals and wastes,
has deplored the sale of skin whitening products from Pakistan containing
elevated concentrations of mercury, a highly poisonous substance.

In test buys conducted on March 24 as the National Women's Month draws to a
close, the group obtained five unregistered “made in Pakistan” skin whitening
creams from beauty product stores at the Baclaran Bagong Milenyo Plaza
and LRT Baclaran Shopping Mall in Pasay City.

“The products are sold illegally as their manufacturers, importers or
distributors have not notified the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and
secured the mandatory product notifications prior to placing or selling them in
the local market,” noted Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste
Coalition.

“Worst, the products are loaded with violative levels of mercury above the
trace amount of one part per million (ppm) that could pose health hazards even
in small amounts. Consumers, especially women and girls, should at once
stop using them,” he emphasized.

As revealed by the X-Ray Fluorescence screening conducted by the group, all the
five products had mercury content ranging from 16,500 to 32,900 ppm, which are
thousands of times higher than the 1 ppm limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetic
Directive. Parley Whitening Cream, which promises a "softer, more
radiant and even-toned skin," had the highest mercury concentration
among the samples.

“We have alerted the FDA about our findings and suggested stern action against
violators to thwart the influx of smuggled Pakistani cosmetics. It's time
to nip the supply of these dangerous cosmetics in the bud before it worsens,”
Dizon said.

To date, the FDA has banned three mercury-skin whitening cosmetics from
Pakistan, namely Golden Pearl Beauty Cream, Goree Beauty Cream and Goree Day
& Night Whitening Cream. The FDA banned Golden Pearl in 2014 and
the two Goree products in 2017.

“Sadly, these banned products are brazenly sold by cosmetic retailers in
Baclaran, Quiapo and Divisoria despite FDA’s threat of regulatory actions and
sanctions against uncooperative establishments. Banned Goree
products are also offered for sale by online merchants at Lazada and OLX,”
Dizon said.

According to the FDA, “adverse
health effects brought about by highly toxic mercury in cosmetics products
include kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring.”“Chronic use reduces the skin’s normal resistance against bacterial and fungal
infections. Other effects include anxiety, depression or psychosis and
peripheral neuropathy. The transfer of mercury to fetuses of pregnant women may
manifest as neurodevelopment deficits later in life,” the FDA warned.

To put an end to the unlawful trade of mercury-tainted skin whitening
cosmetics, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the public to push for and support
heightened law enforcement action against erring businesses by the country’s
health, customs and police authorities.

The group also urged the government to ratify the Minamata Convention on
Mercury, a global treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment
against mercury emissions and releases from human activities. It provides
for, among other targets, the phase-out of skin lightening products with
mercury above 1 ppm.

-end-

Mercury Content of the 5 Samples of Skin Whitening Cosmetics from
Pakistan as per XRF Screening:

25 March 2018

Palm fronds on sale outside the Parish of the Holy Cross in Makati City, 25 March 2018.

Environmental and health groups have jointly urged the public to
make the Holy Week a litter-free and smoke-free affirmation of our vibrant
Christian faith.

Through a press release issued on Palm Sunday, the EcoWaste Coalition and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Alliance, Philippines (FCAP) told the public that preventing litter
and smoke pollution during the solemn days and beyond will do good for
human health and the environment.

“We urge the faithful not to litter as we recall the passion of Christ, atone
for past wrongs, and renew our faith through time-honored traditions and rites
during the Holy Week,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste
Coalition.

“We particularly appeal to those joining the penitential walk to AntipoloCity and those visiting popular
pilgrimage sites to mind their trash. As stewards or caretakers of
God’s creation, it is our shared responsibility to demonstrate respect for the
environment, especially when performing faith-based activities,” he added.

Dr.
Maria Encarnita Limpin, Executive Director, FCAP, appealed to smokers to
observe the Holy Week in a smoke-free atmosphere for their health and the
health of others.

“Tobacco smoke contains toxic and poisonous chemicals, including cancer-causing
substances, which can pose harm and death to both smokers and
non-smokers. By keeping the environment free of dangerous tobacco
smoke, we reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and thus reducing the risk of
heart disease, lung cancer and other smoking-related ailments,” she pointed
out.

Alejandre added “not smoking during the Holy Week will reduce the number of
cigarette butts thrown on the streets that end up in dumpsites, waterways and
the oceans and pose a toxic hazard to the environment, including aquatic
life.”

The EcoWaste Coalition and FCAP likewise appealed to law enforcers to implement
the provisions against littering under Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act) and against smoking as per Republic Act 9211 (Tobacco
Regulation Act) and Executive Order No. 26 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte
in May 2016.

“Faith-inspired activities are not exempted from abiding by our anti-littering
and anti-smoking laws and regulations that are meant to promote and uphold the
public health and safety,” the groups said.

24 March 2018

Environmental health
groups have expressed their disapproval of a planned waste-to-energy
incinerator plant in Davao City to be funded through a Japanese Overseas
Development Assistance (ODA) grant worth JPY 5.013 billion (PHP 2.5 billion).

Davao City-based Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) and Quezon
City-based EcoWaste Coalition reiterated their opposition to the incinerator
project following the signing of the Exchange of Notes last Tuesday by Foreign
Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda at
the Department of Foreign Affairs in PasayCity.

According to the
Japanese Embassy, “Japan’s grant will be used to
construct and manage waste-to-energy facilities to significantly reduce solid
wastes and convert it into usable energy,” adding that “this project is
expected to serve as an innovative example of sustainable waste management to
other cities in the Philippines.”

“If
this project will push through, we will not be solving the issue of massive
waste production of DavaoCity but will only aggravate it as
the plant’s operation will require the steady generation of voluminous trash to
be burned to make it economically viable. This is not the way to solve our
city’s garbage problem. Incinerating discards will rather result in
more environmental, health and socio-economic problems for the city government
and our people. Waste-to-energy incineration is not the solution,”
stated Chinkie Peliño-Golle, Executive
Director, IDIS.

Anti-incinerator campaigner Ruel Cabile of the EcoWaste Coalition indicated
that the ODA grant for DavaoCity’s waste-to-energy incinerator could
open the floodgates for similar schemes to be established in the guise of
solving the country’s garbage woes.

“We find the aggressive push by Japan to
export their waste-to-energy disposal technologies to the Philippines truly
worrisome, especially if this is seen as part of the ‘Golden Age of Strategic
Partnership’ between the two countries. We must be on our guard
against incineration-based schemes that will undermine, if not kill, zero waste
strategies and programs. We need to be mindful of the hidden costs
of such schemes, particularly their adverse impacts on recycling jobs and
enterprises and on human health and the environment. There is no such thing as
free lunch after all,” he said.

In place of incineration, IDIS and the EcoWaste Coalition urged the authorities
to commit to a vigorous implementation of zero waste policies and programs, in
line with R.A. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act), that will prevent
waste and expand waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting strategies,
including making “polluter pays” and making manufacturers responsible for their
products and their packaging.

The groups cited environmental scientist Dr. Jorge Emmanuel who said that with
the effective enforcement of R.A. 9003 “the
residual waste for Davao should
only be 130-190 tons per day, as opposed to the 600-900 tons/day average that
go to the city’s landfill. If zero waste approaches are applied, the
amount can be reduced even further.”

Emmanuel, an adjunct professor at Silliman University and a DOST Balik
Scientist, recommended the “laborious and difficult full implementation of R.A.
9003” to address the city’s garbage problem instead of the purported
waste-to-energy solution from Japan after visiting thefacility
at Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering, Inc. in Kitakyushu last December
2016 as part of a delegation from Davao City.

Among
the issues underscored by Emmanuel in the report he submitted to the city
government is the difficulty of complying with the increasing stringent
standards for dioxins, which are extremely toxic byproducts of waste
combustion, due to cost, lack of enforcement mechanisms, and the inability to
effectively monitor and test emissions.

According to Emmanuel, “even with pollution control devices, the toxic
pollutants will not disappear; they are concentrated into other media that have
to be treated as hazardous waste. Importantly, ash from incinerators is toxic,
heavily contaminated with dioxins and leachable metals, and under the Stockholm
Convention Best Available Techniques/Best Environmental Practices (BAT/BEP)
guidelines, ash requires special land disposal as hazardous waste.”

Environmental health groups welcomed the proposal made by District
1 Councilor Pilar Braga calling on the City Council to enact an
ordinance requiring the use of lead safe paints in construction, maintenance and renovation
projects and activities of the City of Davao.

“The mandatory use of
lead safe paints in the City of Davao, in
support of the national government’s policy and program to eliminate lead
paint, will prevent children’s exposure to lead via leaded paints as well as
reduce occupational exposures to such paints,” Braga told the City Council through a
privilege speech last month.

The Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) and the EcoWaste Coalition
welcomed Braga’s lead safe paint initiative as this will promote the public’s health, safety and welfare, as well as
advance a toxic-free environment for the benefit the city’s over 1.6 million
residents.

“We thank Councilor Braga for initiating this well-timed proposal in line with
the phase-out of lead-containing paints nationwide. The mandatory
purchase and use of lead safe paints for city projects and activities will
safeguard all Davaoeños, especially the young children,
pregnant women and workers, from the detrimental effects of lead exposure to
human health and the environment,” said Chinkie Peliño-Golle,
Executive Director, Interface Development Interventions (IDIS).

“We look forward to the filing and eventual adoption of an
ordinance that will potentially make Davao City as the first local government
unit (LGU) to explicitly require the use of
paints without lead additives for painting jobs paid out of public funds in
compliance with the directive from the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG),” stated Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste
Coalition.

DILG Memorandum Circular 2018-26 on the “Mandatory Use of Lead Safe Paints by
LGUs” issued by OIC Eduardo M. Año last February 28 enjoins the country’s
LGUs - from the provinces to the barangays - to “support the phase-out of
lead-containing paints and eventually reduce the hazards and risks posed by
such paints to human health."

Lead-containing paint and
lead-contaminated dust are recognized as major sources of lead exposure among
children that can cause irreparable damage to the brain and the central nervous
system, resulting in reduced intelligence and behavioral disorders, the groups
said.

The groups explained that lead discharged into the environment makes its way
into the air, land, and water. Painting
activities, particularly the haphazard removal of lead painted surfaces,
release lead particulates that can contaminate waterways such as rivers,
creeks and can even reach underlying aquifers that affect drinking water
quality. Also, lead deposited in soils may be retained for up to 2,000
years and can be absorbed by plants through their leaves and roots, posing
risks to the ecosystems and human health.

“There is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe,” according
to the World Health Organization, which has also classified lead as one of the
“ten chemicals of major public health concern.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) Administrative Order 2013-24, or the Chemical Control Order for Lead and
Lead Compounds, prohibits paints and other surface coatings with lead content
above 90 parts per million (ppm).

The groundbreaking regulation paved the way for
eventual phase-out of lead-containing paints for architectural, decorative and
household applications in December 2016 following a three-year transition
period.

Lead-based paints used for industrial applications are targeted for phase-out
by December 2019.

21 March 2018

A waste and pollution watch group
exhorted Metro Manila’s 17 local government units (LGUs) and the region’s
almost 13 million residents to prevent illegal garbage disposal in waterways.

The EcoWaste Coalition made the earnest appeal as the 14th anniversary
of Republic Act 9275, or the Clean Water Act, and 25th year of
the World Water Day are both observed tomorrow, March 22.

The group aimed its appeal to the densely populated national capital region,
which generates 9,213 tons of garbage per day or nearly one-fourth of the
40,087 tons of the daily waste generation nationwide.

“March 22 is doubly significant because it coincides with the annual World
Water Day and the 14th year of the Clean Water Act since it was
approved in 2004,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste
Coalition.

“We hope national and local authorities will seize the occasion to draw support
from all sectors in the uphill task of protecting our water and water
ecosystems against pollution, particularly from irresponsible trash disposal,
which is essential to realizing improved quality of life,” he said.

To mark the occasion, the EcoWaste Coalition highlighted the need for all LGUs
and waste generators to stop improper disposal practices in water bodies
that persist despite clean-up efforts by the Metro Manila Development Authority
(MMDA) and concerned LGUs.

“While some of the 273 esteros in Metro Manila like the Estero de Paco have
been declogged and rehabilitated, many of the region’s waterways remain
polluted with garbage and other pollutants," Alejandre observed.

“It is apparent that compliance to the anti-dumping provisions of the Clean
Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act is still unsatisfactory
and has to improve,” he added.

The Clean Water Act prohibits the “discharging, depositing or causing to be
deposited material of any kind into the water bodies… which could cause water
pollution or impede natural flow in the water body.” Fines range from
P10,000 to P200,000 for every day of violation.

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, on the other hand, bans the “dumping
of waste matters in public places such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or
parks.” Violators shall be fined P300 to P1,000, or be required to render
one to 15-day community service, or
both.

To promote strict compliance to these laws, the EcoWaste Coalition urged LGUs
to review and strengthen the implementation of their respective Water Quality
Management Action Plans and Local Government Solid Waste Management Plans.

The group specifically sought immediate LGU action to stop the practice of
allowing garbage dumps on streets and even on top or near bridges where
unsorted discards are deposited before being hauled by trucks to disposal
facilities.

“The proliferation of such dumps violates the law banning the dumping of waste
matters in public places, as well as defeats the government’s ongoing drive to
get all dumpsites closed and rehabilitated,” Alejandre emphasized.

To date, 383 open dumpsites and 177 controlled dumpsites continue to operate
all over the country posing serious threats to community health and
environment, especially to the soil and surface and ground water.

19 March 2018

The indiscriminate dumping of
the glass video component of old television or computer monitor on the street
poses hazards to public health and the environment and should be avoided.

The EcoWaste Coalition, an environmental health organization, aired this
warning after finding discarded cathode ray tubes (CRTs) abandoned on the
sidewalks or street dumps, particularly in Makati and Manila Cities.

"The CRTs of old-style TVs and computer monitors are laden with huge
amounts of lead and other hazardous chemicals. If handled and disposed of
without care, the glass panel, which is lined with lead, will break and
contaminate the surroundings," said Primo Morillo, E-Waste Campaigner,
EcoWaste Coalition.

Aside from lead, CRTs contain a host of other chemicals of concern, including
antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, mercury, nickel phosphor, and
rare earth metals, which can be discharged into the environment if the CRTs are
recklessly left out on the street or dumped elsewhere.

Lead, in particular, is a cumulative toxicant that can damage the nervous,
blood, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal and reproductive systems in
humans, and is considered one of the “ten chemicals of major public health
concern” by the World Health Organization.

"Careless handling and disposal will cause the lead and other toxic
components of a CRT to be released out of the tube, polluting the air, water
and soil. This is why we cannot simply throw CRTs on the side of the
road. Like any other electronic waste, or e-waste, CRTs must be managed in an
environmentally sound manner," he said.

Morillo also added that even the plastic casings of old TVs contain highly
toxic chemicals. He explained, “CRTs form part of the country’s growing e-waste
containing extremely toxic substances such as the polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDEs) on CRTs’ plastic casings. PBDEs, which are used as flame retardants in
electric and electronic equipment, are among the newly listed chemicals
targeted for global elimination under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs) of which the Philippines is a state party.”

"To prevent their hazardous contents from polluting the air that we
breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat, we need to keep CRTs and other
e-waste safely handled, stored, recycled, or disposed of,” Morillo emphasized.

“Breaking, dismantling and recycling CRTs in uncontrolled conditions, and
causing their disposal on the streets, creeks, dumps and landfills are
dangerous for waste workers and communities, and is, in fact, illegal,” he
added.

Morillo also noted that the government through the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources is undertaking a project that will ensure the safe
disposal through encapsulation of some 225 tons of leaded glass panels from
about 50,000 CRT monitors.

Supported by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization, the said project seeks the safe management of some
1.15 tons of PBDEs in CRTs, as well as 600 tons of polychlorinated biphenyl
(PCB) oil and PCB-contaminated electric transformers.

“To curb pollution and protect human health, we need to improve public
awareness of the negative impacts of the unsafe disposal of e-waste and support
policies and programs towards the environmentally sound management of this
growing waste stream,” Morillo concluded.

About Me

is a public interest network of community, church, school, environmental and health groups pursuing sustainable solutions to waste, climate change and chemical issues facing the Philippines and the world.